Making a second return trip to his old stomping grounds did not faze Grace Christian girls coach Ward Romans Thursday night. The former Nikiski coach who won eight state titles with the Bulldogs in the 1990s and 2000s had just one thing on his mind — winning a conference game for the good of his team.
The Grizzlies girls team rallied late to defeat Nikiski 39-33 in Southcentral Conference action Thursday at Nikiski High School, and like Noah’s Ark, everything came in twos.
Grace junior Makenna Shamburger clinked in a pair of buckets in the final three minutes to give Grace the lead. Shamburger stepped back for a jumper to tie the game at 33 apiece with 2:13 to go, then hit the go-ahead layup with 91 seconds left.
On defense, senior Mary Hogan had two clutch defensive plays in the final minute of play to stem Nikiski’s comeback bid, getting her hand on a pair of 3-point attempts by Nikiski’s Avery Kornstad on the arc.
“Hogan had some big defensive stops, she’s fearless,” Romans said about the late action. “On offense, I told the girls to attack the basket confidently, and they did it.”
The win lifted Grace to 3-1 in Southcentral conference play and 11-6 overall, while Nikiski dropped to 1-2 in conference play, 8-7 overall.
“This is a big region win for us,” Romans said.
The victory for Grace also ease the sting of a 42-40 loss to Nikiski just a week prior at the Valdez Elks Tournament. Romans said that the confidence of holding Nikiski to just 12 points in the first half helped spur the team to better play.
“It’s a great response for our team to take the mental step of competing for 32 minutes,” Romans said.
Nikiski coach Scott Anderson said the close victory a week earlier was helped with better shooting.
“We didn’t shoot as well tonight, and Grace played a good defensive game,” Anderson said. “They did a better job of cutting off our lanes to the basket.”
Sarah Laker led the Grizzlies with 16 points, including a big third quarter effort, scoring eight of her team’s 12 points.
After seeing an early lead slip away, eventually leading to a 31-23 Grace lead with 6:18 left in the contest, Arianne Parrish stepped up for Nikiski by hitting a pair of triples midway through the fourth quarter to cut into the lead. Parrish scored eight points in a 90-second span, capping it with a trey with 4:10 to go that put Nikiski ahead 33-31. Parrish missed a layup under the rim, but caught her own rebound, dished it off to a teammate, who then whipped the ball back to an unguarded Parrish standing in the corner.
Parrish ended with 10 points to lead the Bulldogs. Nikiski freshman Kelsey Clark also had a big game, scoring eight points and put the moves on the Grizzlies defense early with cuts to the basket.
“She’s been playing really well for us, she’s just a competitor,” Anderson said.
However, in the final minutes, Shamburger and Hogan proved to be too much for Nikiski. Romans said the powerful finish for his squad is a hopeful sign of things to come.
“Our goal is to get better with every game, and we got better tonight after that last week,” he said.
Grace boys 58, Nikiski 43
A week after putting on a clinic against the Bulldogs, the Grizzlies had to pull out the win under much closer circumstances.
Grace boosted its Southcentral Conference mark to 3-1 and 13-4 overall, while Nikiski dropped to 2-1 in conference, 13-4 overall.
Grace routed Nikiski 74-32 at the Valdez Elks Tournament last Friday, putting a period on the idea that the road to the state tournament runs through the Anchorage teams.
Nikiski senior Hunter Holloway led the Bulldogs with 16 points, and said if the high-powered offense of Nikiski hopes to make it to the big dance for the first time since 2002, the Bulldogs will have to overcome the challenges of Grace and ACS.
“We didn’t play our best game last week, and (Grace) shot like crazy,” Holloway said. “I think we made more shots tonight and stepped up on defense, I think we would’ve had it.”
Following a 26-all halftime tie, the Bulldogs were held to five points in the third quarter, while Grace took off running with 17 points.
Tobin Karlberg proved to be the hardest hurdle for Nikiski to overcome Thursday, as the sophomore guard poured in 24 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. Karlberg’s speed and agility tested the Nikiski defense time and time again, and in the final eight minutes, Karlberg was fouled several times and hit 6 of 9 free throws to ice the game.
“When he’s creating shots and facilitating our offense, it’s pretty difficult to stop us,” Grace coach Jason Boerger said. “But I’m not looking past Nikiski one bit. They have good guard play and they shoot well.”
After Karlberg helped push Grace’s lead to 47-31 early in the fourth quarter, Nikiski attempted one last comeback, starting with a pair of 3-pointers by Nathan Carstens and Cade Anderson, which cut the lead to 10 points.
However, the Bulldogs’ struggles against Grace’s post defense did not wilt, and Karlberg managed to get a steal and cut into the lane in transition for a layup and an extra foul shot with 3:39 to play. The miss still left Grace leading 49-37. Another trey by Anderson with 1:51 left proved to ultimately be too late.
Homer girls 52, ACS 43
The host Mariners notched a Southcentral Conference victory.
Madison Akers had 18 for the Mariners, while Aurora Waclawski pitched in 10.
ACS boys 100, Homer 68
The visiting Lions buried nine 3-pointers in picking up the Southcentral Conference victory.
Koby Etzwiler had 19, Charles Rohr had 14 and Hunter Eden and Johann Kallelid had 12 apiece for the Mariners.
Houston girls 42, Seward 25
The visiting Hawks came through with a Southcentral Conference win. Maille Moriarity paced Seward with nine.
Seward boys 69, Houston 51
The host Seahawks hit 30 of 38 from the free-throw line in picking up the Southcentral Conference victory. Ronnie Jackson hit 17 of 18 from the line en route to 28 points, while Nik Pahno had 13 and Seth Brewi added 10.
Nikolaevsk girls 68, Lumen Christi 37
Megan Hickman had 26 as the host Warriors notched a Peninsula Conference win.
Nikolaevsk boys 69, Lumen Christi 33
The host Warriors notched a Peninsula Conference victory behind 13 from Nikit Fefelov, 12 from Jonah Fefelov and 11 from Neil Gordeev.
Thursday girls
Grizzlies 39, Bulldogs 33
Grace 7 8 12 12 —39
Nikiski 8 4 9 12 —33
GRACE CHRISTIAN (39) — VanderWeide 0 2-2 2, Hagen 2 0-0 4, Shamburger 3 2-2 8, Hogan 3 0-0 7, Salima 1 0-0 2, Laker 7 2-2 16. Totals 16 6-6 39.
NIKISKI (33) — Wik 0 2-2 2, Riddall 3 0-2 6, Vollertsen 1 0-0 2, Pitt 1 0-0 2, Kornstad 1 0-0 3, Clark 4 0-0 8, Parrish 3 2-2 10, Jackson 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 4-6 33.
3-point goals — Grace 1 (Hogan); Nikiski 3 (Parrish 2, Kornstad 1).
Team fouls — Grace 8; Nikiski 12. Fouled out — Parrish.
Mariners 52, Lions 43
ACS 18 3 8 14 —43
Homer 15 14 12 11 —52
ACS (43) — Parks 0 0-2 0, Davis 4 0-0 12, Land 3 0-3 7, Williams 3 0-0 6, Carr 5 2-2 12, Todd 2 2-3 6. Totals — 17 4-10 43.
HOMER (52) — Todd 3 2-2 8, Reutov 2 2-4 6, Draves 2 0-0 5, Akers 7 3-5 18, Cole 0 0-0 0, Waclawski 3 2-2 10, Stafford 1 2-3 5. Totals — 18 11-16 52.
3-point goals — ACS 5 (Davis 4, Land); Homer 5 (Waclawski 2, Draves, Akers, Stafford); Team fouls — ACS 13, Homer 5. Fouled out — Parks.
Hawks 42, Seahawks 25
Houston 8 9 11 14 —42
Seward 6 6 6 7 —25
HOUSTON (42) — May-Thomas 3 0-0 6, Bean 0 0-0 0, Bohl 0 0-1 0, Ruth 4 2-4 10, M. Moore 1 0-0 2, Leonard 0 0-1 0, Wilkerson 1 1-2 4, Quincy 4 6-8 14, Kapuniai 1 0-2 2, T. Moore 0 4-4 4. Totals — 14 13-21 42.
SEWARD (25) — Moriarity 2 5-8 9, Anderson 1 1-2 3, Honebein 1 1-2 3, Tolson 0 0-0 0, Jackson 0 0-0 0, Lapinskas 0 2-2 2, VonBorstel 1 4-4 6, Petrosious 1 0-0 2. Totals — 6 13-18 25.
3-point goals — Houston 1 (Wilkerson). Team fouls — Houston 14, Seward 19. Fouled out — Lapinskas.
Warriors 68, Archangels 37
Lumen 2 6 13 16 —37
Nikolaevsk 18 14 16 20 —68
LUMEN CHRISTI (37) — Lebechi 3 1-6 7, Estes 1 0-0 2, Bakic 2 0-2 4, Childs 0 2-2 2, McCormick 1 0-0 3, Puoy 6 6-8 19. Totals — 13 9-18 37.
NIKOLAEVSK (68) — S. Klaich 0 0-0 0, K. Klaich 1 0-0 2, Yakunin 0 1-2 1, Johnson 2 0-0 4, Mametieff 2 0-0 4, E. Fefelov 2 0-2 4, V. Fefelov 3 1-2 7, Kalugin 3 2-3 8, N. Gordeev 1 2-2 4, E. Gordeev 2 0-0 4, Dorvall 2 0-0 4, Hickman 11 2-2 26. Totals — 29 8-10 68.
3-point goals — Lumen 2 (McCormick, Puoy); Nikolaevsk 2 (Hickman 2). Team fouls — Lumen 12, Nikolaevsk 12. Fouled out — none.
Thursday boys
Grizzlies 58, Bulldogs 43
Grace 9 17 17 15 —58
Nikiski 12 14 5 12 —43
GRACE (58) — Salima 1 2-2 4, Osborne 5 5-6 16, Shamburger 0 0-0 0, Wood 0 0-0 0, McGovern 2 0-0 5, Nieder 1 3-4 5, Karlberg 8 6-9 24, Sheldon 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 16-21 58.
NIKISKI (43) — I. Johnson 1 0-0 2, Anderson 3 0-0 9, L. Johnson 1 0-2 2, Kornstad 0 0-0 0, Holloway 5 3-4 16, Tauriainen 0 0-0 0, Carstens 4 0-0 9, Pamplin 2 1-4 5. Totals 16 4-10 43.
3-point goals — Grace 4 (Karlberg 2, McGovern 1, Osborne 1); Nikiski 7 (Anderson 3, Holloway 3, Carstens 1).
Team fouls — Grace 11; Nikiski 18. Fouled out — none.
Lions 100, Mariners 68
ACS 27 23 25 25 —100
Homer 18 9 15 26 —68
ANCHORAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS (100) — Gatkouth 9 0-0 21, Huckabey 12 6-6 32, Cha 2 0-0 6, Hayner 0 0-0 0, Bronson 3 0-0 6, Guzman 3 2-2 10, Dickerson 1 0-1 2, Parks 1 2-3 4, Onochie 3 1-2 7, Lozano 0 2-2 2, Hall 1 0-0 2, Makoi 4 0-2 8. Totals — 39 13-16 100.
HOMER (68) — Rohr 7 0-0 14, Etzwiler 6 6-6 19, Sumption 0 0-0 0, Beachy 4 0-0 8, Eden 2 8-8 12, Felde 0 0-0 0, Ellison 1 1-4 3, Kallelid 6 0-0 12, Carroll 0 0-0 0, Cortez 0 0-2 0, Swaboda 0 0-0 0. Totals — 26 15-20 68.
3-point goals — ACS 9 (Gatkouth 3, Huckabey 2, Cha 2, Guzman 2); Homer 1 (Etzwiler). Team fouls — ACS 16, Homer 15. Fouled out — Huckabey.
Seahawks 69, Hawks 51
Houston 14 19 9 9 —51
Seward 17 14 18 20 —69
HOUSTON (51) — Ko. Taylor 3 4-6 11, Ruta 2 0-0 5, Wyrick 0 0-0 0, Ross 1 3-5 5, Pelesasa 3 0-2 6, Graham 1 1-4 4, Butler 9 2-4 20. Totals — 19 12-19 51.
NIKISKI (69) — Hauze 0 0-0 0, Zweifel 1 2-3 4, Kratz 2 0-0 5, Brewi 3 1-2 10, Jacobson 0 3-4 3, Sieverts 1 5-8 7, Pahno 4 2-3 13, Nillson 0 0-0 0, Jackson 3 17-18 28, Petrosious 2 0-0 4. Totals — 16 30-38 69.
3-point goals — Houston 3 (Ko. Taylor, Ruta, Graham); Seward 7 (Brewi 3, Paho 3, Kratz). Team fouls — Houston 24, Seward 15. Fouled out — Ko. Taylor, Ruta, Ross.
Warriors 69, Archangels 33
Lumen 4 8 3 18 —33
Nikolaevsk 29 17 19 4 —69
LUMEN CHRISTI (33) — Brown 1 0-0 3, Fortune 5 0-0 10, Nagel 1 0-0 2, Lebechi 8 2-3 18. Totals — 15 2-3 33.
NIKOLAEVSK (69) — Boquecosa 1 0-0 2, K. Molodih 4 0-0 8, Jones 0 0-0 0, G. Trail 4 0-2 8, Whaley 0 0-0 0, Yakunin 0 0-0 0, N. Fefelov 5 0-0 13, Gordeev 5 0-2 11, F. Molodih 4 0-2 9, J. Fefelov 5 1-1 12, M. Trail 3 0-0 6. Totals — 31 1-7 69.
3-point goals — Nikolaevsk 6 (N. Fefelov 3, N. Gordeev, F. Molodih, J. Fefelov). Team fouls — Lumen 8, Nikolaevsk 6. Fouled out — none.
Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Nikiski junior Brianna Vollertsen (12) keeps her eye on the ball, held by Grace Christian senior Hayley Hagen, Thursday at Nikiski High School.
